Canadian Province Orders Residents To Stay Out Of The Woods – Threatens $25,000 Fine

Nova Scotia, a Canadian province on the east coast, has banned residents from going into the woods because of the risk of wildfires.

The restrictions, effective as of 4 p.m. on August 5th, include:

• hiking, camping, fishing and the use of vehicles in the woods are not permitted
• trail systems through woods are off limits
• camping is allowed only in campgrounds

“These and other measures are in place on provincial Crown and private land until October 15 or until conditions allow them to be lifted. The fine for violating the restrictions is $25,000,” Premier Tim Houston’s office stated in a release.

“Conditions continue to be extremely dry. Until we get a significant amount of rain, we’re at an elevated risk of wildfires,” said Premier Tim Houston.

“Most wildfires are caused by human activity, so to reduce the risk, we’re keeping people out of the woods until conditions improve. I’m asking everyone to do the right thing – don’t light that campfire, stay out of the woods and protect our people and communities,” he added.

“While the restrictions are in place, people can still access beaches and parks, but not the trail systems. Private landowners are free to use their own properties but cannot host others to use wooded areas of their properties,” the release continued.

Watch Houston’s announcement:

WOAH: Nova Scotia Premier, Tim Houston, announces that citizens are now banned from entering the woods including HIKING to prevent wildfires.

Effective Aug 5. violators can be fined $25,000.https://t.co/LBFIz0JPxC pic.twitter.com/kyrB6T6b7U

— Drea Humphrey (@DreaHumphrey) August 6, 2025

Global News has more:

In the HRM release, the municipality clarified how areas in the municipality will be impacted, while also noting signage on closed areas make take several days to be put up.

“Parks that are all woods will be fully closed. Parks with non-woods areas – such as greenspaces, playgrounds, sports fields and ball diamonds – will remain open for use,” the HRM release reads.

“For parks which have both woods and non-woods areas, the woods are closed and the non-wooded areas remain open.”

The province says the restrictions will remain in place till Oct. 15 or until conditions allow them to be lifted.

The fine for breaking the rules will result in a $25,000 fine – the same amount as the burn ban penalty, which was put in place last Wednesday.

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The burn ban applies to open fires such as campfires, bonfires, brush fires and fires in chimeneas, as well as any other fire that is not enclosed and uses wood as a fuel.

Non-wood burning devices, such as charcoal, gas barbeques and gas stoves are allowed to be used. The ban also overrides any permits that have been issued for industrial burning.

To date, seven fines have already been issued to individuals for breaking the burn ban.

“Nova Scotia, a rural maritime province of Canada, has now banned all access to woodlands, public and private. You are literally not allowed to take a walk in the woods, at risk of a $25K fine. At what point do we acknowledge that Canada (and UK and Australia) are no longer free nations?” one X user commented.

Nova Scotia, a rural maritime province of Canada, has now banned all access to woodlands, public and private. You are literally not allowed to take a walk in the woods, at risk of a $25K fine.

At what point do we acknowledge that Canada (and UK and Australia) are no longer free…

— PLC (@Humble_Analysis) August 6, 2025

CBC noted:

He said the government has received briefings indicating there is no significant rainfall forecasted for the near term.

Landowners are being encouraged to voluntarily follow the same restrictions on their private land to minimize the risk of wildfires. While landowners will not face a fine for activities such as hiking in their own woods, any guest of theirs who is found violating the ban could be fined.

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Parks Canada also announced several closures:

• All trails in Cape Breton Highlands National Park
• All trails at Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site
• Grassy Island, including boat service to and from the island
• All forested areas, barrens and backcountry in Cape Breton Highlands National Park, including undesignated backcountry camping
• Designated backcountry camping at Fishing Cove
• All trails in Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
• Backcountry camping at Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
• All trails at Kejimkujik National Park Seaside
• York Redoubt National Historic Site
• Fort McNab National Historic Site
• Melanson Settlement National Historic Site